message for my ear?" Then the hawk put its beak to Morven's ear,
and Morven bowed his head submissively; and the hawk rested with
Morven from that moment and would not be scared away.

And Morven said:

"The stars have sent me this bird, that, in the day-time, when I
see them not, we may never be without a counsellor in distress."

So Siror was made king, and Maven the son of Osslah was
constrained by the king's will to take Orna for his wife; and
the people and the chiefs honored Morven, the prophet, above all
the elders of the tribe.


One day Morven said unto himself, musing, "Am I not already
equal with the king? nay, is not the king my servant? did I not
place him over the heads of his brothers? am I not, therefore,
more fit to reign than he is? shall I not push him from his
seat?

"It is a troublesome and stormy office to reign over the wild
men of Oestrich, to feast in the crowded hail, and to lead die
warriors to the fray.

"Surely, if I feasted not, neither went out to war, they might
say, 'This is no king, but the cripple Morven;' and some of the
race of Siror might slay me secretly.

"But can I not be greater far than kings, and continue to choose